Brisbane, Queensland
September 27, 2004
Cutting edge computer technology is being used in a new
Department of Primary
Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F)project to fast-track crop
improvement and gives farmers an edge in the battle against
drought.
Project co-ordinator and DPI&F
scientist Professor Graeme Hammer said the research aimed to use
developments in systems biology and computer power to take some
of the “hit and miss” out of plant breeding.
“It is really about making
traditional plant breeding approaches to crop improvement work
better and happen faster,” he said.
“To develop drought-resistant
crops, for example, it is important to understand the novel
traits that reduce water stress.
“By using computer power and
creating a virtual environment we can fairly quickly test a
whole series of ideas on how to improve plant breeding that
previously might have taken 20 to 30 years to test in the field.
“With developments in computer
modeling we can now predict the properties of crops using
knowledge of how whole plants work, combined with molecular
biology and genetics. We can now play evolutionary games that
were not possible even five years ago.”
Professor Hammer will present
some of his findings from the project to the 4th International
Crop Science Congress to be held at the Brisbane Convention &
Exhibition Centre from Sunday September 26 to October 1.
His paper will comment on how
scientists can use their knowledge of crop physiology and crop
modelling in virtual plant technologies to provide a bridge
between gene and whole plant levels to make more effective use
of molecular genetics in plant breeding.
This DPI&F research initiative
also involves the University of
Queensland, CSIRO and a
major plant breeding company. |